Treatment of petroleum distillates



I seams Feb. M, 933

cording to which the oil 18 amt om raonucrs comm, OF CHICAGO, mmors, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DOEA TTIEENT 0F PETLEUH 'DISTILLA Ho Drawing.

ity, a so-called sweetening treatment may be required which consists essentially in the removal of hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans. The hydrogen sulphide is very readily re moved but the mercaptans are removed or converted only with considerable difiiculty. In the past the usual method of sweetening has been to treat with so-called doctor solution, which consists of a solution of litharge in caustic soda and which is used in combination with elementary sulphur. The mercaptans are converted by this treatment into compounds which do not react to give the socalled positive doctor test. The present invention has for its purpose the substitution for [the older and more involved method of treatment of a much simpler method and acsubjected directly to the action of ultra violet light or X-rays. The reaction is especially marked in the presence of air. direct om'dation of the mercaptans to disulphides.

I have found that one sing distillates containing mercaptans toyra s which are not included in the ultraviolet of the spectrum, but which are a highly special ray used in medical practice, that the gasoline was sweetened in less than ten minutes by such exposure. With the actinic rays, a much longer time is required. My process, therefore, comprises the exposure of gasoline to ultraviolet light, especially while ubbling air or other oxidizin therethrough, relates particularly to t e use of X-rays for sweetening while bubbl' air or other oxidizing gas e. g. an oxide of mtrogen through the 011 undergoing treatment. In carrymg out the process, the oil is caused to flow through a conduit through which the Presumably the reaction is the Q ht portion Application filed November- 18, 19:58. Serial No. 408,188.

actmic or X-rays can be passed while bubbling through air or other oxidizing gas.

' As an example of results obtainable by the process, a sour gasoline, that is one containing mercaptan's, was egosed to X-rays while bubbling'air through c gasoline and after ten minutes exposure the asoline was sweet and had improved in 0 or. The finished gasoline was 57 Baum gravity with an initial boilin point of 105 F. and an end point of 43m I claim:

1. A step in the refining of hydrocarbon distillates containing mercaptans which comprises subjecting the distillate to the action of X-rays. I

2. A step in the refining of hydrocarbon distillates containing mercaptans which comprises subjecting the distillate to the action X-rays, in the presence of oxygen.

3. A process for refining cracked gasoline which comprises exposing the same to X-rays while bubbling air therethrough.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEV A. MEKLER. 

